The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant of $630,444 to Kathleen Paul, PhD, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Arkansas, to conduct comprehensive research on the dental genetic architecture of two primate species: tamarins and macaques. Paul’s team aims to use this information to advance bioanthropological practice, particularly in reconstructing evolutionary processes and understanding stress and illness experiences through teeth analysis. The research will be conducted without the use of live animals; instead, skeletonized samples from known lineage colle ..read more

The Jefferson Health Abington Dental Care Access Program celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of providing essential dental services to underinsured and uninsured residents in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In collaboration with the Montgomery Bucks Dental Society, the program connects qualifying individuals with a network of 41 dentists across 16 practices, offering preventive, restorative, and emergency dental care. With more than $1 million in services rendered and an estimated 1,000 community members served annually, the program fills a crucial gap in dental healthcare acce ..read more

AdDent, Inc., introduces the Vac-Tak Veneer Placement Instrument. The Vac-Tak makes it easy to handle and cement delicate porcelain or composite veneers. There are two sizes of suction tips – large, for maxillary teeth and small for mandibular teeth. There are also tips to fit the 3 mm light guide of a Microlux Transilluminator When working with delicate porcelain or composite veneers, the Vac-Tack with translucent suction tips can be used to easily and securely pick up, place and tack cure the veneers. FEATURES Autoclavable handle Two sizes of suction tips Autoclavable tips Silicone tips a ..read more

CHARLOTTE, NC – Synergy Dental Partners, the nation’s largest group purchasing organization (GPO) in dentistry, has announced the successful acquisition of the Dental Whale Savings Network (DWSN) GPO in a secondary transaction following UptimeHealth’s purchase of Dental Whale and all of its subsidiaries. This strategic move further solidifies Synergy’s position as the most influential buying group in dental, enhancing its ability to negotiate with vendor partners and provide unparalleled value and benefits to its members. The acquisition of DWSN represents a significant milestone in Synergy’s ..read more

An aesthetically pleasing, highly functional website is crucial for any dental professional. Overly sterile, disorganized, and slow site pages discourage potential patients from contacting your practice. At the same time, an excellent dentist website makes a great first impression and is an effective dental marketing tool. If you’re ready to boost your dental website, implement the following proven strategies! Our experts use these tips every day to improve website appeal, convert search traffic into new patients, and encourage practice growth. Enhance Your Dentist Website’s Speed One of the ..read more

If the tooth in question demonstrates a Class II furcation involvement characterized by such periodontal destruction as to render it non-maintainable, or if a Class III furcation involvement is present, the tooth is extracted and regenerative therapy performed before it is replaced with an implant, abutment and crown. The question then becomes whether to place the implant at the time of tooth removal and perform regenerative therapy in the residual extraction socket defect, or rebuild alveolar bone in the region through regenerative therapy and place the implant during a second surgical visit ..read more

A recent study published in the journal Vaccine: X explored the potential role of oral health professionals in identifying candidates for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, given the link between HPV and oral cancers. Conducted in Edmonton, Alberta, the study implemented a case-finding strategy in two dental offices. Over 4 weeks, 656 patients were screened, with 179 identified as vaccination candidates, representing a 20.4% yield. Despite 74.8% of patients consenting to discussions about HPV vaccination, only 16% of those who received prescriptions from dentists actually received t ..read more

Arkansas is without a single dental school and its residents have the poorest oral health in the United States. Lyon College in Batesville has been planning to open the School of Oral Health and Dental Medicine in Little Rock in 2025. Unfortunately, obstacles to this plan have continued to arise. Recently, the partnership between Lyon College and OneHealth Education Group, an organization that uses private-sector capital to create medical and dental programs, has ended. The collaboration began in 2022; however, OneHealth’s plan to buy the Heifer International campus for Lyon’s dental school a ..read more

University of Connecticut Health researchers are pioneering nonsurgical approaches to alleviate temporomandibular pain disorders (TMD), offering free treatment via a federally funded clinical trial. TMD, affecting 11 to 12 million US adults, predominantly women, often manifests as myofascial pain rather than joint dysfunction. The study integrates smartphone-based pain tracking with tailored interventions targeting stress-related triggers. Participants receive six weekly sessions, X-rays, mouth guards, and anti-inflammatory medications, complemented by counseling. Treatment methods encompass ..read more

Delta Dental’s 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report underscores a growing understanding of oral health’s significance in overall well-being. With 91% of adults valuing dental visits as crucial as annual physicals, awareness of oral health’s impact on conditions like respiratory illnesses and diabetes is rising, especially among younger generations. The report highlights the correlation between oral hygiene and mental health, with 92% believing it boosts confidence and 77% recognizing its connection to mental well-being. Increased preventive dental care, cited by 83% of adul ..read more